Method and apparatus for forming triangular posts



Aug. 25, 1959 A. P. THEOBALD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING TRIANGULARPOSTS R o 1 mm m wb m m m S L w m fi T w a AB 5 A.

m b A Filed July 25, 1957 ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1959 A. P. THEOBALD2,900,882

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING TRIANGULAR POSTS Filed July 25, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 5 WZ /55 A 5 INVENTPOR A/berf Paul T/zeobo/a' Q0511 m@ aATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1959 A. P. THE OBALD 0,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING TRIANGULAR POSTS Filed July 25, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR M V T73. 52 A Alba/"2 Pou/ Theobald A. P.THEQBALD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING TRIANGULAR POSTS Filed July25, 1957 Aug. 25, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR v A/berf Paul TheobaldATTORNEY United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMINGTRIANGULAR POSTS Albert Paul Theobald, St. Paul, Minn., assignor toWaldorf Paper Products Company, Wabash, Minm, a corporation of MinnesotaApplication July 25, 1957, Serial No. 674,253

19 Claims. (Cl. 93-84) This invention relates to an improvement intriangular post forming machines and deals particularly with a methodand apparatus forming triangular corner posts useful in the reinforcingof shipping cases and the like.

The shipment of heavy appliances in paper board containers has increasedconsiderably during recent years. In many instances the appliance suchas a washing machine, dryer, or other such bulky and heavy object isbolted or otherwise secured to a wooden base frame and the appliance isenclosed within a heavy case of corrugated board or the like. In orderto prevent injury to the appliance during the storage and shipment, andto permit the stacking ofone such appliance upon the other withoutresulting damage, triangular corner posts made of heavy corrugated boardare being used. One such post is inserted in each corner of the shippingcontainer and acts to hold the shipping container in properly spacedrelation from the appliance. These corner posts are extremely strong andresistant to vertical compression and as a result the shipping cases maybe piled one upon the other without damage to the appliances.

Formerly these posts had been produced by ahand operation. Usually thecorner posts are made of four hingedly connected panels, two of whichare overlapped and adhered or otherwise fastened together. In view ofthe fact that posts of this type cannot be nested together, they requireconsiderable space to store and are likewise uneconomical to ship. Thusit is usually most practical to form the posts from flat sheets ofcorrugated board at the point of shipment of the appliances. The cost ofproducing these posts manually is high and as a result the posts wouldnormally add very materially to the cost of the container. It is anobject of the present invention to produce a method and apparatusforming these posts, the apparatus taking the flat sheets, folding theminto proper form and adhering them together.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of anapparatus which acts to plunge a fiat sheet of corrugated board or thelike into a suitable pocket in a manner to prebreak all of the'foldlines along which the board is creased. The edge panels of the seriesare next folded into overlapping relation and adhered in this position.The triangular post then passes through a compression unit which acts tohold the overlapped panels in surface contact during the drawing of theadhesive. As a final step of the series, the overlapped panels whichform the diagonal panels of the corner post are creased or kinkedinwardly so as to lend flexibility to this inner diagonal wall of thepost structure. a

A feature of the present invention resides in the pro vision of anapparatus which operates automatically in cycles to form a complete postduring each cycle. When the machine is operated, a feed mechanism movesa flat blank from storage position to position to be formed over theforming pocket. A plunger next forces the sheet down into the formingpocket prebreaking all of the scores of the sheet. A laterally extendingfolding mem- ICC her next moves against the prebroken sheet and folds:

one of the panels to be overlapped into horizontal position. As the nextcycle of operation begins, and as the next sheet is fed into positionover the forming pocket,

the remaining panel to be overlapped is folded downinto surface contactwith the first folded of these overlapping panels and the two areadhered together. As the corner post moves from beneath the formingplunger, it.

acts to advance the corner posts which have been previously formedthrough the compression unit. As each corner post arrives at a finalposition in the compression; unit, the two overlapped panels arelongitudinally creased or folded together to give the double thicknesswall fiexibility.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

In the drawings forming a part of the description- Figure 1 is aperspective view of a post forming machine showing the generalarrangement of parts therein.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view looking toward the feet end of theapparatus, the position of the section being indicated by the line 2-2of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing a detail of th gluing mechanism. t

Figure 4 is a sectional detail showing the connection between the mainoperating plunger and the feed plate.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the detail con: structionillustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the glue applicating cylinderillustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the post folding mechanism,the position of the section being indicated by the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the folding mechanismshown in Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional view through an end portion of the mechanismshowing the manner in which the formed posts are creased.

Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are diagrammatic sectional viewsthrough the apparatus showing various which the posts are formed.

Figure 17 is an end view of the post sheet at the start of the formingoperation.

Figure 18 is a sectional view through the packing case at the topof thecorner posts, the position of the section being indicated by the line18-18 of Figure 19.

Figure 19 is a sectional view vertically through the packing caseoutwardly of the corner posts, the position of the section beingindicated by the line 19-19 of Figure 18.

The corner posts are indicated in general by the letter A and are formedof the blank best illustrated in Figure 16 of the drawings. The cornerposts are formed of a generally rectangular sheet and are folded alongthree parallel fold lines 10, 11, and 12 to form an end panel 13, a pairof intermediate panels 14 and 15, and end panel 16. The end panels 13and 16 include a central fold line, the panel 13 being divided by acentral fold line 17 and the panel 16 being divided by a central foldline 19. The central fold lines 17 and 19 are designed to provideflexibility of the diagonal wall of the post as will be later described.

Figures 18 and 19 indicate a typical use for the corner posts A.

These figures show a generally rectangular container having spacedparallel side walls 20 and 21 and spaced Patented Aug. 25, 1959 3parallel front and rear walls 22 and 23, the various walls beingrectangularly connected into tubular relation.

The container, which is indicated in general by the letter B isdesignedto'contain an appliance such as an elec-tric :gas dryer "C. The walls ofthis drye'r'are spaced from the corresponding walls of the outer con-.tai-nerand t-he-tzlryer is mount-ed upon a generally rectangular woodenplatform indicated in general by the numeral 24. :A corner post A isprovided at each vertrcal corner of the container with the singlethickness panels 14 and-15 in surface contact with the adjoiningvertical panels of the container and with the overlapped panels 13 and16 extending diagonally across the -corners of the container.Thesepanels 13 audio are bent inwardly somewhat as indicated in Figure18 "of the drawingsso as to :provide a cushioning effect and to holdtliewalls of the container in space relation from the surface of thedryer C. As is indicated in Figure 19 of the drawing the bottom of thecontainer is closed by closing naps '25 "which extend'benea'th'therplat'form 24 while the top of "the container is closed byclosing flaps "26. I

Willbesee'h that because of tlieres'is'tanceto compression of the"corner posts, the containers are extremely strong mayb'e'p'ackied oneupon the other to"a"con sidera'ble height in spite "of the weight of"the 'dry'ers contained.

Figure 1 of the drawings shows the general assembly of the apparatus, aportion of the compression unit bein hfdkenaway' s'othat the overallsize of the apparatus may be shown on a larger scale. The forming "ender the apparatus is shown as including a frame which is ifidfcatch ingerieral' by -the'nunieral27 and which is supported by suitable legunits such 2 9, SOand 31. The'frarne 27 -includes'" as'a*parta' tablesurface 32"wl1'ich is elongated longitudinally-of the apparatus andwhich is lo'r'igitudinal-ly "slotted as iiidicated at '33 at leastthroughout the fee'd end po'r tion of the apparatus. The center portionof the table-is reinforced 'by longitudinally entehdih ahels s l showh'in Figures l' 'a'hd 5.

A hopper 35 is"supporte'd to-eXtend' upwa'rdlyfrom the table to -32m thefeed end efthe apparatus. Theh'op- -.per' 35 may include a rear wall36which' extend's' along one side of the apparatus, and side walls 37and 39wh'i'ch extend-along the forward and rear sides of-thefe'edportion to' contain a seriesof blanks A in "superimposed relation.As indicated in-' Fi-gures 2 and "3 "of the drawings; the forward wall37' terminates slightly above table top 32 to provide a slot 40 throughwhich' the lowermost blank A may move.

The apparatus includes a feed plate for-=mo'ving the lowermost 'blank -Afrom the superimposed :ipositio'n in the hopper; 35 to an advancedposition-fonforming. Phis feed plate is indicated in Figures 1, 4 and '5of the drawing s and is designatedby the :numeral 41. The .plate 41includes "a thin forwardly projecting portion 42 which at all titties'rem'a'iirs beneath at least an edge of the carton bl'ariks A when thefeed plate 4-1 is in full-retracted position which would be slightly tothe right of the position indicated in'Figure 4. The plate 41 is'provided with a tapered rear edge '43 so the plate 'canslide freelybeneath superimposed blanks. V Ab'ove'the level of'the thinforward'portion'42 is provided a series of forwardly extending "fingers"44 Which project forwardly and "engage the-lowermost blank A' to move"this lowermost blank into po'stfOr'm'ihg position upon reciprocation ofthe plate ll.

'Anbperatingcylinder 45'shdvs7n i'n Figures 1 and 2 of' tlie'dr'awing ismounted on a'suitable super structure beneath the feed table andapistonwithin the-cylinder 45 is connected to an elongated piston 'r'od47 extendiiig he'n'e'ath the table 32 and below thecentra'lslot 33therein. A vertical web 49 is provided with alongitudin'al bearing '50at its lower edge to accommodatefthe 49 is connected to the undersurface of the feed plate 41, the web extending through the slot 33.Thus reciprocation of the piston within the cylinder 45 acts toreciprocate the feed plate 41 to move a carton blank from the bottom ofthe superimposed blank to a forming position.

As is evident from Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings a sleeve 5'1'i'sprovided oneither side of the web 49' having eccentric pivots 52'or1the-ends thereof. Rollers 53 are supported on the eccentric pivots .52.A bolt 54 extends axially through one sleeve 51 and through theeccentric thereon, extends through the web 49 and is threaded axiallyinto the other sleeve 51. By loosening the bolt 54, either efbefhsl'e'e'v'e's may "berotated to adjust the relation of the rollers *53against :the under surface of the reinforcing channels 34 to hold thefeed plate in surface contact with the table 32. Stated otherwise, theguide plate '41 and the rollers 53 cooperate to prevent verticalmovement of the web 49 during its travel. 7

An opening55=is provided in the table 32 .formerlyof the hopper 35,aportion of this opening being broken awayi n Figure '1 to disclose thelowermechanism. :As is indicated in- Fi'gures 2, 10, and 11 of thedrawing, one side of the pocketinc'ludes :a downwardly inc'l'ine'd'lipterminating in 'vertically extending lower edge flange 57. The otherside of the pocket 55 also includes a downwardly and inwardly inclinedflange 59 and a downwardly extending vertical panel 60 which is somewhatlonger-than the marginal edge 57. "The ,panel 60' is provided on itsinner surface-with a horizontally extending bar 61 the-lower edge ofwhich forms a shoulder for a purpose which will be later described morein detail. Thepocket 5 5 is :slightly longer than the blank A so th'aitthe entire blaiikmaybe plunged down j'into this pocket in a manner whichwill be more completely described.

An upright '62 extends upwardly from the frame 2 7 and a boxdike support63 is mounted ontheuptightffl to extend transversely t'o'th'elongitudinal axis of the machine. The support 63-supportsaverticalrnounting panel- '64 to which is secureda vertical cylinder-"65.The cylinder "65 acts as a 'slid'ahle support for a pistonto which isattadhed a piston rod66 whichis'vertic-al ly-*re cipi'ocable. A tubularsleeve 67 is attached to thepiston rod '66 to reciprocate verticallytherewith. A"bracke t 69 is provided at theYl'ower end of the sle'eve70, '*-the bracket 69 'being connected along opposite-parallel "hinges"to a pair'of plates '71 which are connected "V-shape' relation. 'A'second pair "of plates 7-2 and 73 are arranged in V s'hap'e"relation,but-are'at a greater angle apart than the plates 70 and 71. The apexor-juncture between the V shapepI'ates "70*and 71' "is 'hingedlyconnected at 7'4 to the apex' between'the plates-'72 and-73. Thus onep'air of V-shape plates pan-hingerelattive-to the-other.

A pair er bracesWS extend between thei sleeve 67 iand the iiite'rior erthe connected al-shaped 'plates 'fit) andk7l to forrna brace for theconstruction and to lrold the plates with their-"ape'xjin-a horizontal'plane. While-de scribing the "feed table and various other elements asbeing onahorizontzilplane, it should be understood that in "actualpractiee the entire machine may incline upwardly to some extent so thatthe hopper-35 is at the lower e'n'd' of ,the machine and thefinished-*posts are ejected from the higher'end' thereof for-"thepurpose of convenience.

"Thelpurpo'se' 'o f the arrangement just-described is' t'o fold theblank- A from a fiat condition into the form illustrated in Figure 10of=the-*'drawin'gs. 'The apparatus zinelude *a" sl'ib 'tab'le 7 6'forming apart of frame- 27 and onto which 'the bl'ank's-are plunged. "Aibracket' 77 1e'sts upon the sub -table' 76 'and supports a 'guideplate79 at auacuteangleto the table 76 beneaththecenter portion o'fthe-poeket'55. "As the plunger 66=moves downwardly, the hinge lineor'ap'ex "74 of'thelowermost' 'conneetetl 'plates 72*and 7 ism'oved against theblank'al'ong-the central line era-rem 1 1- of the blank. (Continued dawn wardmovement of the plunger causes the two plates 72 and 73 to engage wtihequal force againstthe panels 14 and 15 on opposite sides of the centralfold line 11, both plates assuming a substantially equal angle to thehorizontal. As the blank is of substantially equal width on oppositesides of the central fold line 11, the blank is bent along this line andurged downwardly into the pocket, the vertical edges 57 and 60 of theopposite sides of the pocket tending to fold the blank along the foldlines and 12 so that the longitudinal edges of the blank including thepanels 13 and 16 extend in substantially vertical relation. Thisplunging action continues until the panel 14 underlying the plate 72engages against the inclined panel 79 on the sub frame 76. Furtherdownward action of the plunger causes the combined plates 72 and 73 tohinge along the hinge axis 74 until the plate 72 engages against theplate 70. At this point, the plate 73 is in horizontal position and actsto fold the panel into horizontal position. At this point of theproceduer, the marginal edge of the panel 16 engages beneath the bar 61as is indicated in Figure 10 of the drawings, thus folding the blank inthe form illustrated in this figure. The plunger may then bereciprocated upwardly, leaving the partially folded blank in thearrangement shown in Figure 10 at the bottom of the pocket 55'.

As indicated in Figures 2 and 7 of the drawings, a supporting plate 80extends laterally from the frame 27 and is supported in a generallyhorizontal position by a supporting brace 81. The plate 80 acts tosupport a transversely extending cylinder 82 including a pistonconnected to a piston rod 82. A plate 84 is supported for transverseslidable movement beneath the sub-table A lug 86 is provided on theunder surface of the slidable plate 84 through which the piston 83extends, and the piston rod is connected to this lug by nuts 87 or othersuitable means. As is indicated in Figure l, the sub table 76is notchedas indicated at 89 and an angle bracket 90 is connected to theextremityof the slidable plate 84 and extends through the notch 89. Theangle bracket 90 supports a pair of plates 91 and 92 which are arrangedin V-shape relation. The plate 92 is angled upwardly from the sub table76 in opposed relation to the angle of the plate '79 while the plate 91extends in a substantially horizontal plane. As is indicated in Figure 8of the drawings the plate 73 is notched at regular intervals asindicated at 93 so that the plate 73 is in effect a series of figures.The lower edge of the plate 92 is similarly notched to provide spacedfingers 94. The fingers 94 at the lower edge of the plate 92 extendbetween the fingers forming the plate 73 or into the notches 93 so thatthe lower edge of the fingers 94 may interfit with the plate 73 when theangle 90 bearing the plates 91 and 92 is moved laterally.

As a next step of the operation of the apparatus, the piston within thecylinder 82 is actuated to move the plate 84 to the left as viewed inFigures 2, 10, and 11. The figures 94 extend beneath the blank A at thejuncture between the panels 15 and 16 or along the fold line 12 so as totilt the panel 15 upwardly. The movement of the angle bracket at 90 tothe left from the position shown in Figure 10 also brings the plate 91against the panel 16 and folds this panel 16 into the horizontalposition. Thus when the bracket 90 is in the position shown in Figure 11of the drawings, the panels 14 and 15 of the blank A are in V-shaperelation and are approximately 90 degrees apart while the panel 16 is inhorizontal position forming a triangular structure. At this point, thepanel 13 of the blank is still in vertical position as shown in Figure11.

Referring back at this point to the feeding movement of the carton blankfrom its position within the hopper 35 to its position above the pocket55 adhesive is applied to a portion of the upper surface of the panel13. This is accomplished by a glue mechanism indicated in general by thenumeral 95 andshown mounted upon the hopper wall 37 in Figure 2 of thedrawings. This structure is shown somewhat more in detail in Figures 3and 6 of the drawing. Obviously other means of applying the adhesive maybe employed, but the one specifically illustrated in the drawings hascertain advantages which will become apparent upon the description ofthis apparatus.

A hinge plate 96 is mounted upon the hopper wall 37 and is provided withhorizontally aligned bearings 97 along its lower edge. A second hingeplate 99 is hingedly connected to the hinge plate 96 by the hinge pin100. The hinge plate 99 supports an angle bracket 101 which in turnsupports a transversely extending cylindrical sleeve 102. As isindicated in Figure 6 of the drawings, the sleeve 102 is slotted in itslower extremity at 103, and preferably the sleeve includes a series ofslightly spaced longitudinally aligned slots although a single slotcould also be employed. An upwardly extending pin 103 is provided uponthe hinge plate 99 and this pin is freely slidably in a sleeve 104. Aspring connects the upper end of the sleeve 104 to the fixed hinge plate96 and this spring 105 normally tends to pull the upper end of thesleeve 104 toward the hopper wall 37 to hold the sleeve 102 slightlyelevated above the table 32.

A lever arm 1% is hingedly connected at 107 to a fixed portion of theframe such as to the upright 62 and a fluid cylinder 109 is hingedlyconnected at 110 to the hopper wall 3'7 and includes a piston connectedto the piston rod 111 which bears against an intermediate part of thelever arm 106. Once fluid under pressure is introduced into the cylinder109 the piston rod 111 is moved to the left as viewed in Figure 3 thusacting to swing the lever arm 106 about its pivot 107 in a clockwisedirection.

A spring 112 connects the lower end of the lever arm 106 to the upperend of the sleeve 104 opposite its con nection with the spring 105. Whenthe piston within the cylinder 109 is in its normal position, to whichit is biased by the spring 113, the spring 112 is relaxed and permitsthe spring 105 to raise the cylinder 102 above the level of the table32. However when fluid under pressure is introduced into the cylinder109, swinging the lever arm 106 in a clockwise direction, the spring 112is elongated and placed under sufficient tension to swing the cylinder102 against the surface of a blank A which is at that time travelingbeneath the cylinder.

As is indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings, one end of the cylinder 102is connected to an adhesive reservoir 114 by a flexible conduit 115. Avalve 116 is provided in this conduit and the adhesive in the reservoir114 is under pressure. Thus when the valve 116 is open, adhesive underpressure is forced into the cylinder 102 and through the slots 103 forapplication to the blank A. The slots 103 in the cylinder 102 areproperly proportioned relative to the viscosity of the adhesive used sothat when the pressure is withdrawn, no adhesive will flow through theslots. Stated otherwise, the adhesive must be forced from the cylinderby pressure which is only applied during the movement of the blank Abeneath the cylinder 102. Simultaneously with the opening of the valve116, pressure is also applied to the cylinder 109 so as to hold the gluecylinder 102 in surface contact with the blank A during application ofthe adhesive.

Thus it will be apparent that as the blank A moves from storage positionin the hopper 36 to position over the pocket 55, adhesive is applied tothe upper surface of the panel 13. When the blank A is forced into thepocket 55 by the plunger structure which may be designated in general bythe numeral 117, the adhesively coated surface is on the right side ofthe panel 13 as it is viewed in the Figure 10. Thus the adhesive surfacewill contact the panel 16 when the blank is in completely foldedcondition.

. The structure for initiating the folding of the panel 13 isbestindicated in Figures 7 and 12 of the drawings. As shown in theformer figure, a pivot '1 19is supported by a bracket 1-20 mounted upona fixed upright portion 121' of "-theframework. A sleeve 122 pivotallysupported upon the pivot 119 and an angularly extending folding arm 5123is supported by the sleeve 122 to pivot in unison therewith. The arm 123is provided with an .end portion 124 which projects beyond the sleeve.122. A oam' pi-n 125 is mounted upon the plate84 and projects through*a slot I126 in the'subtable 7.6 which may be seen in Figure 7 of thedrawings. This cam pin 125 engages the end 124 of the folding am 123 andswings .this folding arm-in a counter clockwise direction about itspivot 119 as the plate 84 nears the extremityof its stroke and after thepanel 1 6-has been folded down into horizontal position by the plate 91.As-a result of this movement, the panel'13 is folded down -to overliethe plate '91. However, the arm 123 is so bent that the adhesivelycoated undersurface of the panel 13 does not contact the plate 91.

This completes a cycle of operation. However, :beforethe plate 84 isprojected into its open position, the next feeding operation starts. Aplunger 129 which is shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings isanchored to the web 49 which connects the feeder plate of .41 to thepiston rod 47 connected to the piston in the feeder cylinder -45. Thusthe plunger arm 129 ope-rates in unisonwith the feeder plate. A pressureplate 130 is supported at the end of the plunger 129, the plunger 129and plate 130 acting to force the folded posts into the compressionportion of the apparatus. As indicated in Figure 1 and Figure 7 of thedrawings the upper plate 91 forming a part of the lateral foldingmechanism is notched as indicated at 13 1 to permit the pressure plate130 to start urging thefo'lded post beneath a folding horn 132illustrated in Figures 1 and 7 of the drawings to complete the foldingoperation. The pressure plate 130 moves the folded blank A suificientlyto engage the forward end of the post beneath the folding horn 132. Atthis stage of the-operation, fluid is introduced into the oylinder'82 tourge the plate 84 to the right as indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings,thus withdrawing the inclined plates 91 and 92 from engagement with thecarton blank and simultaneously :releasing the cam .pin 125 from itsengagement with'theend124of the folding arm 123 and permitting thespring 133 to return thisfolding horn to its normal retracted position.

As the forward end of the blank A engages .beneath the folding horn 132,and forward movement .of the plunger 129 and its pressure plate 130continues, the

panel :13 is urged against the panel 16 and adhered thereto with-theadhesive '-Whl0h has already been applied to the .undersurface of thepanel 13. The compression unit is 1 indicated in :general .by thenumeral 134. In general, thiscompression unit includes a pair of platesY135 and 136 which are arranged in a V-shape relation-and secured attheir lower extremity .137 .to a suitable support such as l39. The.upperiedges of the inclined .plates 135 and 136..are provided withright angularly extending flanges 140 ;and.141 respectively. Theseflanges .140 and 1.41 acttozsupportspaced pivots 142 and 143respectively which supp r rollers 1.44am 14.5. These roller enga thepanels 14 and n ear their point of connection with fl e an e,1 ;13.-and1-6 respectively and assistin reducing the force required to push theposts through the pornpression unit. Y

.The cornpression member alsoincludes an upperframe member 146 whichsupports spaced hangers "147 which in mm support an angle iron 149justabove the level of the upper-surface-ofthe folded blank A. The angle 149incl de a v rtical fla g wh c upp t spa p vots 1150 which support snacedrollers .5 Efh s the t p of :the ipost -,.-is 53,150 held in properposition .during "movement .of the post ;through :the compression :unit.The rollers 151 combine with the rollers 144.:and1'45t0 :hold the postin proper form during the-drying-of the adhesive.

'WithTeferen'ee now :to Figure 14 of the drawings; and with furtherreferenceto Figures 1 and-.9, it will ,:be noted .thata fr'amework issupported by. .the irame legs 31' including :a table .152 and a pair ofspaced vertical channels 153 and 154 connected by cross connecting.channels- 155. .At .theientrance end .of this framework-a downwardlyprojecting bracket 156 is provided which $1. 1 ports a transversepivot157 which actsas a pivot 0 7 acreasingwheel159. Theereasingwheel159 is located beyond the .end .of the rollers previously described andat this point of the operation, the folded blank is supported by .aninclined plate .160 which may be the end of sthe .plate .136 :and :by.an angularly inclined flange 161 which may provide a narrowed extension.Of the .plate 135. An angle bracket '162is supported inwardly -;0f the.channel :153 ;by spacing members 163. An angle plate 164 rests uponv:the table :152 or is supported slfightf 1y above this table andthevertical flange 165 of this angle 164 supports an angular guide 166through the medium .of spacers 167. The {plate 160 with its flange 161,combined with the angular guides 162 and 1 66 guide :the post in :itsmovement as the creasing :wheel 159 engages the central portions of the.adhered panels .13 and 16, foldingthese panels inwardly along heircentral fold lines 17 .and119.

As is indicated in Figure .9 of the drawings, t-the table 152 alsosupports .a third vertical channel member 169 which fis'also connected.;to the channels .153 and 154 by the transverse .channels 155. The.channels,1 6.9 2.61 aisupporrt-ior :a transverse cylinder 177.0 whichincludes a piston connected to she .connecting rod .171. The vend oftheypiston :rod .or connecting .rod 171 is connected tothe:vertical:flange 1'72.of.a.channel:173. The other vertical side174oitheehannel 173 is connected to a plurality of pushing rods 175which are connecte :1 .1 6 5 319 bracket 164. .A spring 176 connects thechannel flange 17 4 to the .channel 169 .to retract the plunger v17 1when the pressure is not experienced in this .cylinder.

When L'flllid is introduced .into the cylinder 70, the plunger r171slides the channel 173 to the right acting through the push rods .175 toforce the ,angle members 164 219 the right as viewed in Figure .9. Thiscauses the blank A-to be lkinked inwardly in the manner illustrated inthedrawings to form a definite break in the double panels which willform the diagonal panels extending across theconnersof .thecase. Figure9 of the drawings shows the blank A Elll bent form. The panels 13 and 16always fold inwardly due to the :fact that they have been brokeninwardly :to some extent by the creasing roller 159. After the :blankhas :been, bent into the form shown in..Figure 9, thepressure .in .thecylinder 1.70 is released and the springs :177 return-theangle member16.4 to its normal retracted position shown in Figure 14 .of'thedrawings. Due to theresilience .of .the material storming the post, theposts will-partially return to their normal position and willremain inapproximately the cross-sectional shape illustrated in Figure 1.4 of.the drawings.

The operation ofthe apparatus has, for the most part, been .desoribedinconjunction with the description of the device. As ashort vsummary ofthe operation, the .cycle began with .the rfeed plate 4-1 and plunger129 in the retracted-position illustrated in Figure 1, with the plungermechanism 1117 .in elevated .position, and withthe laterallyoperatingfolding .plates 91and92 in post :forming positionas ihown in Figure 11.1.of the drawing, and with the :folding horn 123 also in.postforming,positionshown in Figure 12. Fluid .under pressure isapplied to the plungercylinder .45 tending to retract the piston in thiscylinder and to move the plunger 129 and feed .plate .41 tothe left from.the .positionishownin Figure 1. The feed plate .picks up .the lowermost.blank Aofthe stack of ;the blanks ewithinzthe .hoper .35 and thepressure plate ofthe'plunger r129 enters the .V.=shaped space formed ;bythe :fixed :plate .14 .and .the..=r noveable plate :92, th P t sureplate :130 entering :the (notch e31.-=at :the end .cfztlle top'foldingplate 91. This motion continues until the blank A is fed into positionabove the forming pocket 55 and any post in the forming pocket is formedinto .the compression unit. However, during this operation, fluid isapplied to the cylinder 82 to force the folding plzates 91 and 92 out ofthe path of the pressure plate 13 As the blank is fed into place, theforward edge of the blank passes beneath the glue applicator cylinder102 which is in slightly raised position above the table 32. Just at thetime the forward edge of the blank passes beneath the glue cylinder 102,pressure is applied to the cylinder 109 applying tension to the spring112 and swinging the glue cylinder 102 against the upper surface of theblank. Simultaneously, pressure is applied to the valve 116 to open thisvalve and to transmit pressure to the glue cylinder 102 to forceadhesive from this cylinder. Thus during travel of the blank beneath theglue cylinder, glue is applied to a portion of the upper surface of thepanel 13.

When the feed plate 41 and plunger 129 reach fully retracted position orthe limit of movement of the piston within the cylinder 45 fluid isautomatically applied to the opposite end of the cylinder 45 tending toproject the piston rod 47 and to return the feed plate 41 and plunger129 to their starting position. When this movement is accomplished,fluid is automatically applied to the cylinder 65 to lower the plungerelement 117 against the blank and to force the blank into the pocket 55.

As the plunger assembly 117 moves downwardly, the hinge plates 72 and 73engage the approximate center of the blank A or along the fold line 11which tends to fold the blank centrally into sections. During thisoperation, the plate 73 swings upwardly so that equal pressure isapplied to both sides of the blank. This folding operation continuesuntil the panel 14 of the blank engages the inclined fixed plate 79 andlimits the lowering the portion of this panel. As a result, the plate 72swings toward the fixed plunge-r plate 70 and the plate 73 swings towardhorizontal position to move the blank into position illustrated inFigure 10. In this position the panel 14 is inclined to the angle of thefixed plate 79, the adjoining panel 13 is in substantially verticalposition against the pocket flange 57, the panel 15 is horizontalagainst the bottom of the pocket, and the panel 16 extends verticallywith its upper edge beneath the shoulder 61 on the pocket side 60.

The plunger assembly 117 then is returned to elevated position by fluidoperation of the cylinder 114 and fluid under pressure is applied to thecylinder 82 tending to retract the piston in this cylinder and to movethe plate 84 to the left from the position shown in Figure 10 of thedrawings to the position shown in Figure 11 thereof. Obviously, springmeans may be employed to produce this return movement in place of thefluid movement which has been described. As the plate 91 strikes thepanel 16, it folds this panel toward a horizontal position.Subsequently, the plate 92 engages the juncture 12 between the panels 15and 16 to swing the panel 15 into upwardly inclined position against theupper surface of the plate 92. Just before the completion of themovement of the plate 84, the cam pin 125 strikes the end 124 of thefolding arm 123 and swings this arm in a counter clockwise direction asviewed in Figure 7 thus folding the panel 13 down into position topartially overlie the folding plate 91 but spaced sufliciently therefromso that the adhesively coated undersurface does not engage the plate 91.

This completes the cycle. During the next cycle of operation, the postwhich has been formed is engaged by the pressure plate 130 of theplunger 129 moving the post 'beneath the folding horn 132 while the postis held in partially folded position as described. The folding plates91, 92 are then returned to the disengage posi- 10 tion shown in Figure10 permitting the pressure plate to force the post into the compressionunit.

As each post is forced into the compression unit, its forward edgeengages the rear edge of the next or previously formed post and urges ittoward the outlet end of the compression unit. The last post of theseries is advanced beneath the creasing wheel 159 to its final positionat the outlet end of the machine. During the dwell of the cycle thecylinder is actuated to kink the post inwardly as shown in Figures 9 and15. The completely formed post is forced from the outlet end of themachine by the entrance of the next post into its final position.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my postforming machine, and while Ihave endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire tohave it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope ofthe following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A post forming apparatus for forming a generally triangular post froma flat blank having four panels hingedly secured together alongsubstantially parallel fold lines, the apparatus including a plungermeans engageable with the blank for folding the blank along its intermediate fold line into U-shaped form with the end panels of the blankgenerally parallel, plunger means engaging one of said parallel endpanels of the blank folding said one end panel of the series to extenddiagonally across the next adjoining panels and folding said nextadjoining panels into angular relation, means folding the other endpanel of the series to overlie the first folded end panel, and meanssecuring the two end panels of the series in surface contact.

2. The apparatus described in claim 1 and including means applyingadhesive to one end panel of the series prior to folding this end panelinto surface contact with the other end panel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 and including means moving the folded blanklongitudinally and holding said end panels in surface contact. I 4. Apost forming apparatus for forming a generally triangular post from agenerally rectangular blank creased along parallel fold lines to formfour hingedly connected panels, the apparatus including a frameincluding a forming pocket, means positioning a blank in registry withsaid pocket, plunger means engageable with the blank to fold the samealong its central fold line into said pocket, plunger means engageablewith an end panel of the blank in said pocket to fold the end panel toextend diagonally across the two adjacent panels, and means engageablewith the remaining end panel of the series to fold the remaining endpanel into surface contact with the first folded end panel, and meanssecuring said end panels in surface contact.

5. The structure of claim 4 and including means moving said postlongitudinally from said pocket and means engageable with saidsuperposed end panels to fold the same inwardly between their sideedges.

6. The structure of claim 5 and in which said last named means engagessaid superposed panels upon longitudinal movement of the post.

7. A post forming machine for forming generally triangular posts fromsubstantially rectangular flat blanks creased on substantially parallelfold lines to provide four hingedly connected panels, said apparatusincluding a feed table having a forming pocket therein, means engageablewith a blank on said table to move the same from a starting position toposition over said pocket, means engageable with a blank positioned oversaid pocket to fold the blank along its intermediate crease and plungethe blank into said pocket, means engageable with an end panel of theseries to fold the same to extend diagonally across the next twoadjoining angularly related panels, means engageable with the remainingend panel of the series to aggoasse told the sam'e to overlie said first:Eolded end panel, vrand means moving said blank longitudinally of itssc'ore lines 'Pf-rOm' s'aid pooket while holding said end panelssuperposed.

" 8. The structure of claim 7 and inoluding'means for applyingadhesiyeto one-of said end -panels during movement of the blank fromstarting.positionstoposition "over pocket.

9. The-structure described in claim 7 and in which said means for movingsaid blank :Erom starting position .is conneoted to-said means for.movingsaid blank from :said pocket for operation inuniso'n.

10. The structure described in claim 7 and in which themeansfioramoving.lthe5blank fromstarting position .:and the means formoving the blank from said pocket comprise connected rrecipro'cableplungers.

:l l. The structure of cl'aim'7 and including means engageable withsaidsup'erposed endpanels-for folding the same inwardly interrnediatetheirlongitudinal edges.

12. The structure of claim 7 andincluding means engageable with saidsuperposed end panels duringvmoven'rent-of said'blank for folding the:same inwardly, and means engageable with opposite edges ofs'aidsuperposed end panels for;further.=folding the same inwardly.

l3. .A:blank folding apparatusifor folding a flat-rectangula'r bl ankcreasedsalong parallel foldlines to. form tour connected panels into a-:generally triangular "post, the apparatus including .a :formingpocket, .rneans engaging the blank along its intermediate crease'towfold the blank into -V-shape into :said pocket, means engageablewith oneiinterrnediate panel ofthe :seriesto hold the same upwardlyinclined them :the center crease, .rneans iforming one-side of saidpocket ihcldingithe oneendpanel eon nected to said one intermediatepanel insubstantial'ly vertical relation, means folding the otherintermediate panel into -'substantiall-y horizontal position; means-forming an opposite side of said pocket'holding the remai m ing' end panelinsubstantiallyyertical; position, means engageable with said otherintermediate panelto-Iold the same into upwardly inclined positionfrom-the center crease and folding said remaining 'end panelintosubstantially horizontal position to extend -diagonal o'fs'aidintennediate panels and means engageable with said one 1 2 end .panel tofold it into overlying 'rrelation to :said maining end panel.

:14. The Structureof claim 1:3 and including'zmeam en- .gageable'withthelongitudinal edge. of said remaining end vpanel for holding the blank insaid pocket while .said means engaging the blank along its intermediatecrease is Withdrawn, and means for Withdrawing said last named means.

.15. The structureofclaim 13 and in which the means engaging the blank.along its intermediate crease-includes a plunger having angelong'ated,blank engaging member of V-shapedsection:hingedly connected theretosubstan- .tially along its apex.

16. The structure of claim 15 andin which said means engageable with oneintermediate gpanellaets through the blankto hinge said bl-anl =engagingmember.

17. A gIDfithGd of "forming a corner post from :a gen erallyLreetangularblank divided bythre-e parallel oreajses into .-fourconnected panels, the method comprifsing the steps of folding the blankalong its intermediate crease into v shape, folding the -blank along itsouterioreases to hinge th eendpanels relative to: the intermediatepenels, .ioldi-ng one intermediate panel into a substantiallyihorizontal plane while holding "the other vintermediate panel upwardlyinclined from the intermediate. crease andshold ing the end panelssubstantially-vertical, folding the end panel connected to thehorizontal panel inwardly toward horizontal positionwhilelsimultaneouslyfolding the horizontal panel upwardly. into inclined relation with thezontal, and foldingtl e remaining end,- panelto overlie the firstfolded; end ,panel.

18. The method }Of claim :17 andincluding;the step 'of applying adhesiveupon one of-said end panels prior to the folding operation.

19. :The method of claim 17 andincluding the further step of vmoving the.folded blank longitudinally of its creases and urging said end panelsinto surface contact during thismovement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,061,286 Millett Nov.-1 '7., 19.36 2,580,846 Sayre .etal ;J-an. 1,1952

